Former WRU chief executive David Moffett, actively campaigning to return to the board, has launched a surprising attack on the Western Mail hours after the newspaper carried an interview with current chairman David Pickering.

Moffett, who takes all opportunities to court publicity and is a fierce critic of the current board and who launched his own manifesto for Welsh rugby last month, took to his Twitter account to let the newspaper know exactly where he stood.

After aiming some shots at Pickering, Moffett, who is currently back in New Zealand, posted: "The one thing I can absolutely guarantee the Western Mail is that the day I get back in will be the day I cancel all newspaper advertising with them."

Warming to the theme he added: "I shall be asking on behalf of the clubs how much is spent by WRU on newspaper advertising with Western Mail in this digital age #wastedmoney."

Moffett denied, again on Twitter, that he had made any threat. "Being in NZ [I] posted that before I knew anything about an interview. I think newspaper ads are a waste ... hardly a threat if all I'm trying to do is save money from being wasted on newspapers in the digital age."

Moffett was offered the right of reply by ESPNscrum.

The one thing I can absolutely guarantee the WM is that the day I get back in will be the day I cancel all newspaper advertising with them